The Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources has accepted the resignation of the chairman of Foynes Port Company after his request to bring in consultants to examine the management of the company was not backed by the board. The Department confirmed yesterday that industrialist Mr Sean Hanratty had submitted his resignation to Dr Woods, and a statement added that the decision "was a matter for the chairman".
Mr Hanratty, who is the managing director of Myson Scanglo in Newcastle West and Potterton Myson in Dublin, said through the employers' group, IBEC, which nominated him for the post, that it had been clear from an early date that he had been unable to fulfil the commercial mandate in the Harbour Acts.
He took up office when the new semi-state port company was set up in April to replace the old Harbour Trustees on the Shannon Estuary in west Limerick.
Mr Hanratty's company has been one of the most successful in the Blue Circle Group and this year he was named "European Manager of the Year" by his own corporation.
Last week, the company's board voted six to four to ask the Minister to replace him. It was said the port workers supported Mr Hanratty and saw him as the person best suited to progress the £20 million Foynes development plan.
The worker-director, Mr Ger Reidy, who opposed the motion, told the meeting the workers backed Mr Hanratty.
The chairman wanted to investigate the running of the company and was concerned at salary rates and financial overheads.
IBEC wants to meet Dr Woods on the issue.